Collapsible umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella having a telescopic stick and shortenable dome ribs which can be stowed in a relatively small package; the dome ribs, struts and stretcher members being arranged such that they fit within each other.

Unite States Patent 1191 111.1 3,831,614 Weber Aug. 27, 1974 COLLAPSIBLERELLA 667,719 2/1901 MOUltOll 135 30 786,471 4/1905 [75] Inventor. HeinzWeber, 1-111den, Germany 1,902,774 3/1933 2,047,711 7/1936 [73]Ass1gnee. Bremshey AG, Solingen, Germany 1700,39] 1/1955 [22] Filed:Sept. 24, 1969 3,177,882 4/1965 7 1] pp o 8 8 3,439,690 4/1969 Weber135/26 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun [52] US. Cl. 135/25 Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Alan Swabey [51] Int. Cl A45b 19/00 [58] Field of Search135/2231 57 ABSTRACT 56] References Cited An umbrella having atelescopic stick and shortenable dome ribs which can be stowed in arelatively small UNITED STATES PATENTS package; the dome ribs, strutsand stretcher members 289,230 1 1/1883 Colby 135/28 being arranged Suchthat they fit Within each Other 437,287 9/1890 Cappel 135/28 633.5849/1899 Marley 135/30 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTL'ZMUQ 2 71974SHEET 1 BF 3 m .E J. M WW mm M m NR 9W J mm m W i m Fi f N VE N TOR AF/A/Z W 95? A Tram/5y PAIENIEB AUG 2 71974 soiaalmsm SHEEI 2W 3 YINVENTOR flrramvf Y PATENIEDMIBZTIW 3,831 .614 SHEEI 3 0f 3 5 INVEN TORI HEM/z WZ'Hf/F COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA The present invention relates to acollapsible umbrella, particularly to an umbrella having a telescopicstick and telescopic dome ribs,

In conventional telescopic umbrellas, the length of the umbrella iseffectively reduced by telescoping the stick and the dome ribs. However,although the axial length of the umbrella has been considerably reduced,it is normally found that thediameter of the closed umbrella is greaterthan, for instance, the diameter of the non-collapsible umbrellanormally known as the fashion umbrella.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a collapsible umbrellawhich has a reduced axial length when closed, as well as a relativelysmaller diameter than the conventional telescopic umbrellas. In recentdevelopments, it has been proposed to make the auxiliaryrunner of thetelescopic umbrella as compact as possible by providing recesses in therunner to allow the dome ribs to be grouped in these recesses. Forinstance, in different types of umbrellas, the dome ribs fold in thesame plane as the support structure of the dome rib and, therefore, asthe dome rib is closed, it lies out of the recesses in the runner sincethe stretcher members and struts of the support system take up the spacein the recess of the runner.

According to the present invention, the auxiliary runner is providedwith individual separate projecting lugs to which the support struts arepivoted and the dome ribsand the stretcher means are so formed that theauxiliary strut nests within the stretcher member, for in-- stance.These stretcher members whichare U-shaped saddle the separate lugs ofthe auxiliary runner.

Further in a more specific embodiment of the present invention, theauxiliary runner is injection molded, including the lugs as well as thepivoting pivot pins, to which the auxiliary struts of the support systemare hinged.

Still in a further embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliarystruts are so formed that they curve slightly against the stick when thedome ribs are folded to a closed position, thereby reducing the diameterof the collapsed umbrella.

The fact that the auxiliary struts are slightly curved or deformed whenin a folded position, they inherently tend to press the dome ribsoutwardly whichis an advantage when opening the umbrella to initiate theupward swing of the dome ribs away from the umbrella stick towards anextended position.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, it shall bedescribed in more detail, with particular reference to the drawings,showing by way of illustration, preferred embodiments thereof and inwhich:

FIG. I is a partial representation of the umbrella, approximately lifesize and in the open condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detail of the umbrellashown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is section along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of another detail of theumbrella shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of thedetail shown in FIGS. 4 and 1;

FIG. 7 is a part-section of the umbrella in the folded and shortenedcondition;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical section in the region of the auxiliaryslide in the position. shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 shows the umbrella half open.

The umbrella according to FIGS. 1 to 10 has a telescoping umbrella stick1 consisting of tubular parts 2 and 3, of which part 2 is the innertube. The umbrella stick may be locked in the extended position by meansof the usual ball and spring catch.

At the end of tube 3 is a'carryi'ng handle 4 provided with an annularrecess 5 for the reception of free ends 6' of dome-rib outer sections 6.

A main runner 7 is adapted to slide on the umbrella stick I and anauxiliary runner 8 is located between the main runner 7 and the crown 9at the end of the stick portion 2.

Tube 2 carries a crown 9 and a cap 10, dome ribs 11 being hinged to thesaid crown.

Each dome rib 11 comprises two sections of approximately equal length,section .a attached to the crown and section b which is the outersection. Part a consists of a U-shaped cross section open towards theumbrella stick, while part .b guided therein is made of material ofcircular cross section.

A stretcher member 12 and a strut member 13 are components of thedome-rib spreading and folding support system.

Stretcher member 12 runs-from main runner 7 to which it is hinged bymeans of hinge pins 14, at one end and to geats 17 connected to the domeribs at the other end. A strut member 13 is in turn pivoted to theauxiliary runner 8 at one end and to an intermediate portion of thestretcher member 12 at its other end. The runner is built up below thehinge area at 15 as shown in the drawings. The recesses 16, in which thestretcher members 12 are hinged, are closed towards the bottom of theenlarged portion 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 10, the geats 17 is of U- shaped constructionwith downwardly extending leg members subtending a hinge pin 18. Thestretcher member 12 is pivoted to the hinge pin 18. The outer dome ribsection b has a downwardly bent end portion 19 which is also hinged tothe pivot pin 18. As can be seen, as the umbrella is open and thestretcher member extends downwardly from the stick, the dome rib outerpart b is positively extended from its telescoped position in the innersection a.

The auxiliary runner 8 includes projecting lugs 20, one for everypivoting strut 13. Each lug 20 has a thickness which is less than thewidth 21 of the U-shaped stretcher member 12. Therefore, when theumbrella is closed, the lug fits within the opening 21 of the stretchermember 12 whereby the stretcher member is nested over the lug 20.

The lug 20 is of H-shaped construction with the pivoting pin portion 22being integral with the lug. This lug is normally injection molded withthe end of the strut 13 in position so that the plastic material flowsthrough the opening 23 in the end of the struts 13. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the flattened end of the strut 13 provides a mold core formingthe openings 24 in the lug 20. The opening 24 terminates at a distance Zfrom the outer wall 8' of the runner 8. This permits the thick enedcollar in the area of the lugs 20 where it is neces sary to havereinforcement of the: runner. The runner 8 is made in the form of atubular sleeve sliding over the stick 1, with a portion extending aboveand below the area of the lugs 20, The runner 8 also functions as aspacer locating the pivoting point of the strut 13 from thecrown 9. Thehinge of the struts 13 are spaced apart from the hinge of the dome ribs11 when the umbrella is in an extended position.

The other end of the auxiliary strut 13 is pivoted to a hinge pin 25subtended between the legs of the stretcher member 12'. The hingeconnection of the strut 13 to the stretcher member 12 is reinforced bymeans of an insert 26 between the legs of the U-shaped stretcher member12 which is retained therein by means of side depressions 27 and 28 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The hinge pin 25 is actually connected betweenthe legs of the insert 26 rather than directly to the legs of thestretcher member 12 so as to prevent weakening of the stretcher member12. The strut 13 is preferably made of spring-like wire material andincludes a bent portion 29. As the umbrella is being folded to a'closedposition, the bent portion 29 first engages within the insert 26 andcauses the remaining length of the strut 13 to bow outwardly of thestretcher member 12 as shown in FIG. 7. The bowed strut l3 pressesslightly against the stick'l as shown in FIG. 7, and of course providesfor the initiating of the pivoting movement of the dome ribs when theumbrella is being opened. As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the strut13 is partially within the confines of the U-shaped stretcher member inthe area of the hinge 25 and also at its hinge point with the lug of therunner 8. The part of the stretcher member which nests over the hinge ofthe strut l3 and the lug 20 is that part which is hinged within thegeats 17. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the geats 17 is nested over thestretcher member 12 and the stretcher member 12 is nested over the lug20, providing a very compact folding arrangement in an area which isnormally the thickest area in telescopic umbrellas. Referring back tothe bow-shaped spring arrangement of the strut 13, when it is in afolded position as shown in FIG. 7 it can be noted that as the dome ribends 6' leave the recess 5 in the handle, the dome ribs immediatelyspring out to the position as shown in FIG. 10, whereby it is now onlynecessary to press upwardly on the main runner 7 to fully extend theumbrella.

I claim: I

1. A collapsible umbrella frame comprising a telescopic stick having ahandle at one end and a crown at the other, dome ribs pivoted from saidcrown for movement toward and away from said stick, said dome ribscomprising telescopically related sections, support means for orientingthe dome ribs in an extended position, said support means comprising: amain runner reciprocably engaged on said stick above said handle,

main struts pivotally supported at one end in radially extendingrelation from said main runner for movement toward and away from saidstick and pivotally connected at the other end to said dome ribs, theimprovement comprising: a second auxiliary runner reciprocably supportedon said stick for movement between said main runner and said crown, saidsecond runner having a plurality of radial projections circumferentiallyspaced and at least equal in number to the number of dome ribs hinged tosaid crown, auxiliary struts pivoted in radially extending relation fromsaid radial projections on said auxiliary runner and to an intermediateportion of said main struts, the main runner having a U-shaped crosssection opening toward said auxiliary struts, the projections on saidauxiliary runner being received in a U-shaped portion of a respectivemain strut when the frame is closed and the main struts lie along thestick, the auxiliary struts having a combined width with saidprojections of the auxiliary runner to which they are hinged which isless than the U-shaped cross section of the main struts opening towardthe auxiliary struts so that the main struts nest over the auxiliaryrunner hinge connections to substantially reduce the umbrella framecross section at the auxiliary runner when the umbrella frame iscollapsed and closed.

2. An umbrella frame as set forth in claim 1 in which said auxiliarystruts are of a spring material and include an intermediate angularlydirected portion whereby the auxiliary struts are placed undercompression between the main struts and the stick when the frame isclosed, said handle including means for receiving terminal portions ofthe dome ribs for maintaining the frame closed whereby release of theterminal end portions of the dome ribs from the handle results in thecompressed portions of said auxiliary ribs to urge the main ribsradially outwardly toward an open condinon.

3. An umbrella frame as set forth in claim 1 in which said main strutsand dome ribs are connected by means of a geats embracingly engagedabout said dome ribs and having a U-shaped cross section opening towardmain struts for receiving the main struts therein at the projections onsaid second runner over which the main struts embrace when the frame isclosed.

4. An umbrella frame as set forth in claim 1 in which at least saidsecond runner includes a transverse hinge pin integral with said radialprojections and comprising a one piece element therewith, said auxiliarystruts having a transverse aperture through which said transverse hingepins extend.

1. A collapsible umbrella frame comprising a telescopic stick having ahandle at one end and a crown at the other, dome ribs pivoted from saidcrown for movement toward and away from said stick, said dome ribscomprising telescopically related sections, support means for orientingthe dome ribs in an extended position, said support means comprising: amain runner reciprocably engaged on said stick above said handle, mainstruts pivotally supported at one end in radially extending relationfrom said main runner for movement toward and away from said stick andpivotally connected at the other end to said dome ribs, the improvementcomprising: a second auxiliary runner reciprocably supported on saidstick for movement between said main runner and said crown, said secondrunner having a plurality of radial projections circumferentially spacedand at least equal in number to the number of dome ribs hinged to saidcrown, auxiliary struts pivoted in radially extending relation from saidradial projections on said auxiliary runner and to an intermediateportion of said main struts, the main runner having a U-shaped crosssection opening toward said auxiliary struts, the projections on saidauxiliary runner being received in a Ushaped portion of a respectivemain strut when the frame is ''''closed'''' and the main struts liealong the stick, the auxiliary struts having a combined width with saidprojections of the auxiliary runner to which they are hinged which isless than the U-shaped cross section of the main struts opening towardthe auxiliary struts so that the main struts nest over the auxiliaryrunner hinge connections to substantially reduce the umbrella framecross section at the auxiliary runner when the umbrella frame iscollapsed and ''''closed.''''
 2. An umbrella frame as set forth in claim1 in which said auxiliary struts are of a spring material and include anintermediate angularly directed portion whereby the auxiliary struts areplaced under compression between the main struts and the stick when theframe is ''''closed,'''' said handle including means for receivingterminal portionS of the dome ribs for maintaining the frame''''closed'''' whereby release of the terminal end portions of the domeribs from the handle results in the compressed portions of saidauxiliary ribs to urge the main ribs radially outwardly toward an''''open'''' condition.
 3. An umbrella frame as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said main struts and dome ribs are connected by means of a geatsembracingly engaged about said dome ribs and having a U-shaped crosssection opening toward main struts for receiving the main struts thereinat the projections on said second runner over which the main strutsembrace when the frame is ''''closed.''''
 4. An umbrella frame as setforth in claim 1 in which at least said second runner includes atransverse hinge pin integral with said radial projections andcomprising a one piece element therewith, said auxiliary struts having atransverse aperture through which said transverse hinge pins extend.